Panthers win two of four on road swing

After dropping a 7-3 decision at Carlisle on Thursday, Heber Springs traveled to Valley View in Jonesboro on Saturday for a doubleheader versus Jonesboro Westside and the host Blazers.

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By Will Gilbert

The Sun-Times - Heber Springs, AR

By Will Gilbert

Posted Mar. 14, 2013 at 12:01 AM

By Will Gilbert
Posted Mar. 14, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Heber Springs

After dropping a 7-3 decision at Carlisle on Thursday, Heber Springs traveled to Valley View in Jonesboro on Saturday for a doubleheader versus Jonesboro Westside and the host Blazers.
The Panthers (3-5) crushed Westside 12-2 behind a stellar performance from freshman Hunter Chandler before falling to Valley View 15-5. On Monday, Heber hit the road again, heading south to Maumelle, where they picked up a 10-5, extra-inning victory.
In Thursday's loss to Carlisle, senior shortstop Paden Flippin finished 2-for-2 with a double and triple and senior catcher Harley Hooten went 2-for-4, including his third home run in a five-game stretch, plus a double.
Junior first baseman Michael Kramer (2-for-3) and senior center fielder Brooks Morgan (2-for-4) also recorded two hits apiece in the Panthers' loss to the Bison.
Junior Colby Allen got the nod on the mound at Carlisle, tossing five innings while giving up seven runs on five hits. Allen struck out six and walked two.
Chandler led the Panthers in Saturday's route of Jonesboro Westside, finishing 2-for-3 with 5 RBI, while pitching five innings and only allowing one earned run. Chandler scattered three hits, struck out three and walked two.
Senior third baseman Judson Smith (2-for-2) and sophomore Chandler Marquardt (2-for-2) each recorded two hits and drove home two runs, while Kramer added an RBI single.
In the second game on Sarturday at Valley View, the Panthers lost despite several players with multiple hits. Flippin (2-for-4) led the Panthers with two hits and 2 RBI, while Kramer (2-for-3), Morgan (2-for-4) and Marquardt (2-for-3) also had two hits.
Allen (1-for-1) drove home two runs with a single and sophomore starting pitcher Dillion Moore (1-for-3) also contributed a base hit. Moore gave up six runs, only three earned, in six innings of work, limiting the Blazers to four hits and two walks, while striking out one batter.
On Monday, Heber beat Maumelle in eight innings. Tied at 5-5 entering the top half of the eighth, Flippin cleared the bases with a 3 RBI triple, propelling the Panthers to victory. Flippin finished 3-for-5 with 5 RBI.
Kramer (2-for-4) and Hooten (1-for-4) each added an RBI for the Panthers, while Morgan went 1-for-3, but reached base safely on 4-of-5 plate appearances.
Smith got the start and pitched 5 1/3, limiting the Hornets to three hits while striking out three. Kramer picked up the win on the mound in relief, giving up two earned runs, striking out one and issuing one walk in 2 2/3 innings of work.
The Panthers (3-5) played host to Vilonia on Tuesday before visiting South Side Bee Branch on Thursday. Heber returns home for its 2-4A Conference opener on Friday versus Lonoke.